The Government has pushed back against claims that rail investment in the UK has been characterised by a long-standing “boom and bust” cycle, despite acknowledging concerns raised across the supply chain.
Responding to the Transport Committee’s Rail Investment Pipelines report, ministers said there is no evidence of systemic volatility in overall rail funding, with the exception of rolling stock. However, the response accepted that the perception of inconsistent investment remains widespread within the industry.
The Government said it shares the Committee’s ambition to provide greater long-term clarity and reduce unnecessary volatility, but stopped short of adopting most of the report’s recommendations.
Among the proposals put forward by the Committee was a call to refresh and maintain the Rail Network Enhancements Pipeline (RNEP), which has not been publicly updated since 2019. Instead, the Government outlined plans for a revised approach, including the creation of a “potential pipeline” of schemes that could be progressed if funding becomes available. No detail was provided on how or when this information would be published.
Transport Committee Chair Ruth Cadbury expressed disappointment at the response, warning that it does little to reassure industry.
“The rail industry needs certainty in the supply chain, but the response does not fill the Committee with confidence that the Government is seized with the necessary urgency,” she said.
Cadbury added that evidence gathered during the inquiry consistently pointed to cycles of fluctuating investment, which she argued have created damaging uncertainty for suppliers and hindered long-term planning.
“While it’s positive that Government shares our ambition to strengthen long-term clarity, it’s clear that more detail is needed about how this will be achieved,” she said. “We cannot rely on improvements simply emerging as a by-product of Great British Railways.”
She also highlighted electrification as a clear example of the impact of inconsistent investment over time, with stop-start delivery contributing to higher costs and reduced efficiency.
The Committee is expected to continue scrutiny of the Government’s approach, with further detail sought on how a more stable and transparent investment pipeline will be delivered.
